Hush, be Still

by Phil Lapp

In Mark 4:39 we find Jesus and His disciples crossing over the sea in a boat. It was in the evening and Jesus had had a busy day. He was tired and so fell asleep as the disciples rowed away.

As Jesus slept a storm was brewing and rose into a fierce gale of wind. The waves began to break over the boat so much that the boat was filling up with water.

The storm seemed to cause no little fear in the hearts and minds of the disciples. They must have been desperately trying to save the boat from sinking. Can you imagine the scene?

Finally giving up, thinking they were going to perish….they woke Jesus from His much needed sleep, saying; “Master, do you not care that we are perishing?” see verse 38

“Hush, be still.”

These words of Jesus had immediate consequences. They wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

(40) And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? “ How is it that you have no faith?”

Have you heard the Lord Jesus say to the storms in your life, “Hush, be still.” And then turn to you saying; “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

The most powerful antidote to fear is to these words of Jesus, “Hush, and be still.”

When we are afraid, we most times panic and do something. We do anything to alleviate these fears. Anything to shake them off and busy ourselves, so we can try not to think about it. Many times we desperately try to fix the situation or the person.

But for Jesus to calm them; we must do something that which the disciples finally did, when they were at their wits end. They came to Jesus and cast all their fears upon Him.

“Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time. Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1Peter 5:6-7

It takes humility to cast all of our anxiety upon Him. As much as we hate anxiety, our flesh loves to hang on to it. It’s a control issue mostly. We know if we give it to Him, we receive no credit for the outcome.

Dear Brother and Sister; Come to Jesus and hear Him say to your storm; “Hush, be still.”